Leroy Doty, 41, of Orleans entered a plea of guilty to one count of home invasion in the second degree Tuesday in Ionia County 8th Circuit Court.

In exchange for the plea, three other counts were dismissed and Doty could get six months in jail. Second degree home Invasion is a felony which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.

Doty is accused of breaking into a home on North State Road in Ronald Township Jan. 9 and taking a television. He was arrested shortly after the incident by deputies from the Ionia County Sheriff's Office after a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle was stopped north of the victim's home, according to a press release from the ICSO.

Doty's attorney, Patrick Duff, told Circuit Court Chief Judge Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger his client is experiencing financial hardship and when he broke into the home had wanted to provide income for his family, in an inappropriate manner, of course, Duff added. He asked that Doty's bond of $20,000 be reduced, so that he can get out of jail and attend a social security dire needs request hearing.

Ionia County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Lori Kirkhoff argued against the request by Duff to lower bond, saying that Doty is accused of a "serious crime (that includes) invasion of privacy.

"I have grave concerns about what he'll do while out on bond or if he will even appear, especially given the emotional state he is under while he is here (in the courtroom)," Kirkhoff said, referring to Doty crying during much of the proceedings.

Kirkhoff added that the same request regarding bond had been made at Doty's arraignment in Ionia County 64A District Court, where Judge Raymond Voet had said "he was surprised at how low (bond) was and denied a request to lower it," she said.

Kreeger denied the request that bond be lowered, but added that she would not object to Doty's being released to a family member for the hearing, but then returning to jail following the hearing.

Sentencing will be in six to eight weeks.

William Kilburn

In other Circuit Court action, attorney David Mierendorf filed a motion requesting his client, William Kilburn, undergo a competency hearing and forensic review.

Kilburn, 19, of Pontiac is facing criminal sexual conduct and child porn charges in Ionia County after a joint investigation by the Ionia County Sheriff's Office and Montcalm County Sheriff's Office of a complaint involving child sexually abusive materials discovered in Montcalm County. He was arrested Nov. 21 in Oakland County after allegedly soliciting a 16-year-old Ionia County girl to obtain the materials for him, and conspiring to have sexual intercourse with an 8-year-old relative of the girl, said Det. Phillip Hesche of the Ionia County Sheriff's Office.

Page 2 of 2 - Mierendorf told the court his client, who has a history of mental illness, exhibited "unusual behavior" and that he doesn't believe "he comprehended our conversation." He asked for and was granted an extension of the deadline for notifying the court and prosecutor of intent by the defense to assert an insanity defense pending the results of the competency hearing.